Combination motorized work and machine bench



Oct. 8, 1935. c w so v 2,016,528

COMBINATION MOTORIZED WORK AND MACHINE BENCH Filed Aug. 4, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 8, 1935. c. M. WILSON 2,016,528

COMBINATION MOTORIZED WORK AND MACHINE BENCH Filed Aug. 4, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dot. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECOMBINATION MOTORIZED WORK AND MACHINE BENCH 7 Claims.

This invention relates to benches upon which machines are mounted, andparticularly to improvements in benches of this character provided withmotors and upon which dilierent ma- 5 chines may be mounted.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a bench ofthis character which is so constructed as to permit the mounting of anyone of a plurality of difierent machines and the connection of suchmachines with a motor carried by the bench.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floating motor, thatis, a motor which is on the bench and which is capable of being movedinto a plurality of different situations on the bench so as to adapt itfor conveying power to different machines which may be mounted. on thebench.

A further object is to provide a motor support for the bench which willpermit the wheel of the motor to keep the belt taut.

A further object is to provide movable tables for the bench whereby onemachine or set of machines may be transposed and exchanged for anothermachine or set.

Other objects will appear following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure1 is an end elevation of a work bench constructed in accordance with myinvention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a rack for supporting the several tables to beused with the work bench.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the .work bench.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top view of the bench with the table in the course of theremoved.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation enlarged of the notched motor support,and the supporting bar therefor, the latter being in section.

The bench as illustrated in Fig. l hasfour legs l which are of angleiron. At the upper end of these legs the legs are connected by angleirons II, the horizontal flanges of which extend inwardly as at 12. Thelower end of the bench is connected by angle irons 13 which support aplatform 14 which may be used for the storage of stock or to store aflexible shaft unit or for other purposes.

Intermediate the upper and lower ends of the legs, the legs areconnected by two angle iron braces l5, and extendingacross one side ofthe bench is an angle iron support. N. This support I1 is verticallyadjustable upon the legs, the legs being formed with a plurality ofperforations I8 for this purpose, and bolts, screws, pins or otherdevices pass through these perforations and into the ends of the supportI! so that this support may be vertically adjusted.

Disposed uponthe exterior of the legs which support the bar I! is anangle iron hold-down bar l9 which is likewise adjustable up and down thelegs by members passing through the perforations l8. Preferably thishold-down bar will be supported by means of pins, tho clamp screws orother means may be used for this purpose, one of these pins acting as ahinge so that the bar may be readily elevated and readily depressed. 15

Coacting with the supporting bar I! and'the hold-down bar l9 are twoangle iron motor supporting bars extending parallel to each other andconnected at one or both ends by any suitable braces and provided withhandles 2| at opposite ends. The vertical flanges of these angle irons20 are upwardly notched as at 22, these notches being adapted to fitover the vertical flange of the angle iron supporting bar H. The innerend of this support formed on thebars of the angle irons 20 carries anelectric motor 23 of any suitablecharacter. By lifting the holddown bar19 the motor support formed by the bars 20 may be shifted eithertransversely of the machine or longitudinally of the machine.

It will be noted that the motor support fulcrums slightly. on thevertical flange of the bar I! so that the weight of the motor may keepthe motor belt tight, that is, the belt whereby power is transmitted tothe various machines Which may be supported upon the top of the bench.

Coracting with the bench and adapted to be selectively positionedthereon are a plurality of movable tables. One of these tables isdesignated A. These tables are all slottedfor the passage of the beltfromthe motor 23 to the machines mounted upon the tables and each tableis adapted to, fit within the horizontal flanges of the angle, irons l land rest, thereon. To this end each table is formed with downwardlyextending flanges 24. These flanges may be on opposite sides of thetable or on all four sides of the table, as desired. Clamp screws 25,0requivalent instrumentalities pass through the angle irons II and engageagainst these flanges 24 to thus hold the table rigidly in position uponthe top of the bench.

. I have illustrated a plurality ofthese tables, one of them being shownas mounted upon the bench itself. and. the others, 13, C, and D, beingdisposed within a rack R. The rack forms no part of my invention itmerely being desired to illustrate that a number of different tables maybe used each containing a different form of machine and each table beingreadily inserted in place in the top of the bench and clamped thereinready for use.

It will be seen that the motor or the motor support is shiftable so asto carry the transmission pulley of the motor into position beneath thedriving shaft or other instrumentality of any particular machine, andthat this motor is adjustable longitudinally with the bars 29 ortransversely. 'It is also obvious that because of the space between thebars 2%] that the motor itself may be mounted for adjustment upon thesesupporting bars 20. Each of these tables is so constructed as toaccommodate a belt from the motor to the machine and also to accommodatefrom one to six individual machines.

The bench is wired for electric current to such power as desired tofurnish power or current to the motor. To this end I provide a panel P,which carries a 220-volt supply plug 26, a 220-volt switch 27, andllG-volt utility plug permitting attachment of any other machine. Inaddition to this I provide a pivoted supporting rod 28 which carries atits upper end the lamp 29 so as to throw light down upon the bench. Theswitch may be used for starting and stopping the motor and the plug 38for attaching any other electrical extension cord when needed. The lightholder may be lowered entirely out of the way when large work is to bedone.

It will be seen that a bench constructed in accordance with my inventionis particularly well adapted for use by the home craftsman Who mayreadily store the tables and use them as required and who has littlespace to set up an entire workshop. A contractor may readily transportthe bench, together with the various tables, to the situation where thework is to be accomplished, set them up and then readily transport themto any new situation. On the tables any desired tool, as for instance,grinders, saws, lathes, band saws, Joiners, or any other tool or set oftools may be placed and belted to the motor direct or through a jackshaft in order to secure various speeds.

The table A may accommodate between the power pulley and the lightsupport a grinder, a buffer, or other tool and at the opposite end ofthe driving shaft a face plate may be used or a grinder, a buffer, asanding disk, or other necessary combination tools. These tables may beso arranged as to give a plurality of speeds as may be needed by theoperator. Furthermore, the lower ends of the legs will be provided withpivotally mounted casters, designated generally 3|, these casters beingso arranged that they may be turned down to permit the bench to bereadily shifted about the workshop and then turned up to permit the legsto rest solidly upon the fioor of the shop. When turned down, thecasters may be held in place by pins, screws, or other clamping devices.7

Attention is particularly called to the fact that the notches 22 aredisposed at slightly less than a right angle to the plane of the motorsupporting bars 26. This is for the purpose of holding the motor in suchposition as to secure the right belt tension. The motor supporting bars20 are set with the angle iron I! extending into the desired notch togive the desired belt tension and thus the belt tension does not dependentirely upon the weight of the motor. The slight upward and downwardmovement of the motor supporting bars 213 will hold the beltsufiiciently taut, it being understood that the notches 22 are spaced adistance apart slightly greater than the thickness of the upwardlyextending flange of the angle iron I 1 so as to permit this slight play.If the motor hung entirely upon the driving belt and the weight of themotor be used to secure the belt tension, the motor would have atendency to 10 climb the belt and vibrate, which is very unsatisfactory.Furthermore, the belt would wear and stretch and this is avoided by myconstruction.

It will be understood that the very slight play or up and down movementof the motor supporting bars is only enough to release the belt, ifdesired, when changing machines and to hold the required belt tension.In order to move the motor in or out, it is, of course, necessary toraise the holding down bar l9 and lift the motor sup- 20 porting barsand shift them. By simply depressing on the handle at the rear of thebars 20, the motor may be lifted so that the belts may be readilyshifted when it is desired to change tables.

It will be further seen that by setting the various tables or a jackshaft upon the tables in a required position with relation to the belt,one belt may be used to run any number of machines, therefore, onemotor, one belt and one bench with the machine set upon movable tablescan be used to form an entire work shop.

It will be obvious that the motor supporting bars may be slid so far tothe right of the bench so as to extend the belt pulley to the outside ofthe bench and thus run an outside machine with the belt from the motor.

The angle iron E5 on the side of the bench may also be used in themanner of the angle iron H and be adjustable and the legs be aperturedto permit the hold down bar l9 to be used on the side of the bench whenin coaction with the angle iron ii so that the motor may be set on threesides of the bench should necessity require.

While I have referred to a 220-volt supply plug, it is to be understoodthat the bench panel may be wired for l10-volts to accommodate theordinary house wiring and run the motor thereby.

While I have referred to the use of angle irons for the formation ofthis bench and angle irons for the bars l1, I9, 20, and I5, I wish itdistinctly understood that I do not wish to be limited to the use ofangle irons as other material might be used and that the bench may bedifferently constructed and braced.

While I have illustrated a specific construction of this bench, whichconstruction has been found to be very sturdy, and yet relatively cheapand light, I do not wish to be limited to the details of constructionexcept as defined in the appended claims, as it is obvious that manyminor changes might be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed, is:

1. In a work bench having legs, a supporting bar mounted on the legs ofthe bench, a holddown bar also mounted upon the legs of the bench andparallel to the supporting bar, and a motor supporting member having oneend disposed between and engageable by both the hold-down bar and thesupporting bar, the motor supporting member being formed with a seriesof vertical notches into which one of said bars is adapted to beinserted being thus transversely and longitudi-- nally adjustablebetween said bars.

2. A work bench including an open frame having legs, interchangeablebench tops detachably engaged with the frame and adapted to carrydifferent machines, a supporting bar mounted upon the legs for verticaladjustment and extending parallel to the table, a hold-down bar mountedon the legs for vertical adjustment and extending parallel to thesupporting bar, a motor supporting member having one end disposedbetween and engaged by both the hold-down and supporting bars, the motorsupporting member being transversely and longitudinally adjustablebetween said bars, and the motor supporting member having a series ofnotches on its lower face engageable over the supporting bar.

3. A work bench including a frame having legs, a bench top engaged withthe frame, a supporting bar mounted upon the legs for verticaladjustment and extending parallel to the top, a hold-down bar mounted onthe legs for vertical adjustment and extending parallel to thesupporting bar, and a motor supporting member having one end disposedbetween and engaged by both the hold-down and supporting bars, the motorsupporting member being transversely and longitudinally shiftablebetween the bars and the motor supporting member having a series ofnotches on its lower face, the notches being disposed at an angle lessthan a right angle with relation to the plane of the supporting member.

4. A work bench including a frame having legs, a bench top engaged withthe frame, a support ing bar mounted upon the legs for verticaladjustment and extending parallel to M the table, a hold-down barmounted on the legs for vertical adjustment and extending parallel tothe supporting bar and a motor supporting member having one end disposedbetween and engaged by both the hold-down and supporting bars, the motorsupporting member being transversely and longitudinally shiftablebetween the bars, and the motor supporting member having a series ofnotches on its lower face, the notches being disposed at an angle lessthan a right angle with relation to the plane of the supporting member,the notches being slightly wider than the thickness of the supportingbar whereby to permit the supporting member to have a slight verticalplay.

5. A work bench including an open rectangular frame having legs, a benchtop on the frame and adapted to carry a machine, a supporting barmounted upon the legs for vertical adjustment 5 and extending parallelwith the table, a holddown bar mounted in the legs for verticaladjustment and normally extending parallel to the supporting bar, and amotor supporting member comprising two connected bars, the bars having10 downwardly extending flanges, the flanges being notches to receiveand engage with the supporting bar, the notches being disposed at anobtuse angle tothe plane of the supporting member and having a widthgreater than the thickness of the 1 supporting bar.

6. A work bench including a frame defining an opening, the frame beingdisposed in a horizontal plane and having legs extending downwardlytherefrom, interchangeable bench tops each having a portion extendingdownwardly and fitting into the frame and a portion extending outwardover the top of the frame, the bench tops being adapted to carrydifferent machines and each top being slotted for the passage of adriving belt, a motor support carried by the legs and disposed beneaththe frame and means whereby the motor support may be adjusted to bringthe motor beneath any point of a bench top, the motor support beingadjustable vertically with relation to the bench top.

7. A work bench including a rectangular frame defining an opening, theframe being disposed in a horizontal plane and having legs extendingdownward therefrom, interchangeable rectangular bench tops insertibleinto the frame and supported thereby, each top being adapted to carrydifferent machines and each top being slotted for the passage of adriving belt, a motor support carried by the legs beneath the frame andmeans whereby the motor support may be adjusted to bring the motorbeneath any point of a bench top and whereby the motor support may beadjusted vertically with relation to the bench top.

CHARLES M. WILSON.

